Power Power woodworking

Tip 2: multiple Tablesaw pieces of to the magic exact same width

1. Measuring, setting and sneaking up on this cut setting takes time and can be frustrating. A makes this process simple and fast. To make this gauge, I have used a piece of about 180mm long x 25mm wide and 16mm thick. Be sure the thickness does not make this piece higher PHOTOGRAPHS BY JIM DUXBURY than the table top as it may be an obstruction in other 2. Next, take a piece of hardwood scrap jointed on one side Even the best tablesaws operations. Now make two slots for the No.12 screws with and make a cut about 50mm wide. Do NOT move the rip washers shown lying on the table top. Slots can be made by . Take the cut piece and place it at the end of the rip can be difficult to four end holes about 25mm on centre and sawing out fence and hold the new gauge against it. Locate and the centres with a scroll or saw. two holes in the clamping bar for the metal screws. set for accurate and reliable cuts. Jim Duxbury gives us some handy workshop tricks Tip 1: calibrating the saw to make the job easier rip fence to the ruler on ecently I have become the fence clamping bar less dependent on making R measurements and marking 1. This is simple to do, dependable and yet is seldom done. Begin by setting the fence cut lines on boards. They are about 50mm from the and clamp it down firmly. Take a block of wood that time-consuming, inaccurate and has been jointed on one long side, put the jointed side against the fence and, with a almost impossible to duplicate. The pushstick, make the cut. following three tips are easy to do and 3. Drill the clamping bar and mount the gauge with screws in 4. To give it a try, move the rip fence away. Take a scrap inexpensive to make. In fact, for the the middle of the slots. Take the previously cut piece and hold piece of wood you would like to duplicate the width of, place most part, scrap blocks of hardwood it against the fence bar, bring up the gauge so that it is just it against the gauge and bring the ripsaw fence up to it. Lock and a little thought yield fantastic snug and tighten the mounting screws. This gauge is now set. the fence in place. results. Note: manufacturers make a variety of configurations of tablesaws so some adaptation may be required.

Health & safety One of the most frequently used 3. Then from this dimension adjust pieces of equipment in my workshop the rip fence gauge to read the same is the tablesaw. It gives me a smooth measurement on the clamping bar rule. cut with accuracy, speed and Lock the fence gauge in place. With this repeatability. However, the tablesaw small adjustment you have eliminated is also probably one of the most measuring from the tip of one tooth dangerous items in my workshop. to the side of the rip fence and then Lightning fast accidents can occur. having to make multiple test cuts to get The tips shown here are designed to it perfect. Speed and accuracy improve be used with a full blade guard and 2. Now use callipers to measure the along with the ability to use other jigs, riving in place. exact width of the piece just cut. as you will see later on. 5. Take another piece of wood wider than the first and rip it. 6. Two pieces of the exact same width. It’s magic!

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2. To provide for this space, I am using a 100mm spacer. This spacer consists of a piece of hardwood, about 200mm long, cut exactly 100mm wide. Calliper this width to be sure it is exactly 100mm wide, then drill a 6mm hole in the end of the spacer Tip 3: accurate cross and glue in a short length of . This dowel fits down at the cutting on the tablesaw end of the saw table so that the gauge cannot travel towards the blade. The vertical piece and top piece that hooks over using the mitre gauge the rip fence is optional and has to be custom made to fit the fence configuration. You may just use the 100mm spacer piece and the vertical piece with a clamp securing the gauge to the 1. Multiple pieces can be cut with the use of this mitre gauge rip fence. This works fine also but requires another step and and the rip fence as an end stop, however this requires a a clamp. The important part is the 100mm dimension and space to be left between the end of the board being cut off the previously calibrated fence setting. When this spacer is and the rip fence. This is very important. Without that space completed, install it on the saw rip fence. Now, for example, if the cut off piece can get trapped between the blade and the you want multiple pieces exactly 48mm long, set the rip fence fence causing the piece to wedge and fly back. to 148mm. 100mm + 48mm = 148mm.

3. Next, with the use of the crosscut gauge, make a small cut 4. Then bring the crosscut gauge back… to and clean up the end of the board.

Jim Duxbury Jim Duxbury, woodturner and inventor, is the kind of guy who thinks and creates ‘out of the box’. His turnings are unique and he seldom turns the same thing twice. With the help of his pet parrotlet, ‘Bean’, creativity abounds – a variety of fine turnings are made from small bottle stoppers to lattice-cut bowls, trays, furniture, 5. … extend the piece to the new 6. Lay the pieces on their sides and check kaleidoscopes, wooden hats, pens and gauge and make a cut. Repeat this to the length. All exact – with no pencil lines even a working Foucault Pendulum. cut a second piece and then as many or rulers! Email: [email protected] more as you like. Web: www.duxterity.com/ec

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